The multitalented faculty and student body of the Loyola Music Department mesh music, drama and dance in Loyola Opera Theatre’s presentation of Leo Delibes’ “Lakmé.”
Performances will be at Roussel Hall on Friday, Jan. 21 at 7:30 p.m. and Sunday, Jan. 23 at 3 p.m. with two separate casts.
David Morelock, director of Loyola Opera Theatre and 2002 recipient of the Lifetime Achievement Award by Big Easy Tribute to the Classical Arts Awards, chose Lakmé because he felt he had the perfect students to fill the cast requirements. Morelock is not spoiled by past successes, hoping his audience “find[s] what they like or what they don’t like.”
The opera is a tragic love story surrounding the forbidden relationship between a young Hindu maid, Lakmé, and a British soldier, Gerald, during the colonization of the British Empire in India.
Vernon Di Carlo, vocal performance sophomore, who plays Gerald, said the production is “extravagant” and “not a typical light opera.”
Gerald falls in love with Lakmé when he hears her sing in a sacred garden. Nilakantha, Lakmé’s father and a Brahman priest, played by Justin Hopkins, vocal perforance junior, is furious and tries to kill Gerald.
“The part is typically played by a 50 or 60-year-old,” says Hopkins whose deep baritone voice highlights the show, “so it was a stretch vocally and theatrically.”
“It is a more interesting opera,” said Di Carlo because “there is more character development.”
Gerald is first a romantic dreamer singing that he would like to “fly away on wings of gold,” but then deserts Lakmé for practical duties resulting in her suicide.
Lakmé, played by Cleona Torres, vocal performance junior, and Kate Fleming, vocal performance senior, is one of the most challenging operatic parts for coloratura sopranos, a subdivision among women voices.
Fleming, who is in Friday’s production, said that she has “worked like crazy.” In Act 1, Lakmé and her companion sing one of the most famous duets, the “Flower Duet,” which is melodically flawless.
Carol Rousche, conductor of the Loyola Opera Theatre, teams up with Morelock, who she has worked with in past Loyola productions as well as with the New Orleans Opera.
“She has been so impressive,” Di Carlo said of Rousche’s efforts. In four days she has put together a full orchestra of faculty and student musicians to accompany the vocalists.
Don and Linda Theatrical Services provide the performers with artistic make-up, bringing the Hindu characters to life. Even more amazing is the stage set – the most elaborate in recent productions – and the traditional Hindu costumes.
Kelly Waguespack, vocal performance sophomore, said that the opera stands out from previous performances as “very exotic and cultural.” Loyola Ballet makes a brilliant ingredient appearing in Act 2. Sunanda’s Performing Arts Center was hired to choreograph the Hindu dance ensemble.
“The classical training I received from Ms. Laura Zambrano [director of Loyola Ballet] gave a solid background for the elegance of Hindu dancing,” Livia Hill said.
A crew of Loyola student and faculty camera operators, headed by music business professor John Snyder, will be taping the performances. The videos will be sold for $10-$15.
Vanessa Scanlan can be reached at [email protected].
